Voya Financial Appoints David Wilken to Lead Individual Life Business

NEW YORK, July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that it has appointed David Wilken as president of the company's Individual Life business, effective immediately. In this role, Wilken will be responsible for the implementation and execution of a refined vision and strategy for the business, which supports Voya's broader focus on helping customers as they plan, invest and protect their savings for retirement. He will have overall responsibility for the strategy of the Individual Life business, and will directly manage product teams, distribution and sales, business development and underwriting. He will also join Voya's Operating Committee. Wilken reports directly to Insurance Solutions Chief Executive Officer Michael Smith, who oversees the Individual Life, Employee Benefits and Closed Block Variable Annuity segments.

"With nearly 30 years of finance and sales leadership experience for Voya and its legacy companies, Dave has a true passion for life insurance and how it can help customers grow, protect and enjoy their retirement savings," said Smith. "Dave has been instrumental in our journey as Voya and has helped our Individual Life business adapt to a dynamically changing market. His strong industry and institutional knowledge, along with a deep understanding of consumers and distributor needs, makes Dave the ideal candidate to lead the business as we advance Voya's vision to be America's Retirement Company."

In his most recent role as head of Individual Life Distribution, Wilken was responsible for the leadership and management of all Individual Life sales distribution channels with a focus on growth in the accumulation and indexed market segments. He previously served as head of the company's independent Life sales channel and in various accounting and finance positions for the Life and Annuity businesses.

"Insurance consumers at every age and life stage expect a provider that knows how to meet their needs — with the products, services and solutions that are most meaningful to them," said Wilken. "I'm extremely proud of what Voya's Individual Life team has accomplished in recent years. We've refined and realigned our distribution strategy; we've pioneered new digital selling systems and capabilities; and we've re-focused our suite of products to better guide Americans on the path to a more secure retirement. I'm thrilled to take on this opportunity, and I look forward to leading Voya's Individual Life business during its next phase of growth and evolution." 

Wilken earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas. He currently serves as a member of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) and a board member of BestPrep, a nonprofit that helps educate Minnesota students on business, career, financial literacy and life skills.

Voya Financial's Individual Life business offers customizable life insurance products to help consumers protect their financial future, provide for their loved ones and potentially grow their retirement income through indexed universal life or "cash accumulation" products. The business provides ongoing value to select distribution partners through a variety of tools and services including Voya Life Journey — an online, tablet-based selling system — and interactive, long-term Concierge Service for IUL-Global policies to help manage customer expectations and results.

As an industry leader and advocate for greater retirement readiness, Voya Financial is committed to delivering on its vision to be America's Retirement Company™ and its mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time. 

Media Contact:
Nicole Vasile                                                              
Voya Financial                                                                                                   
(860) 839-1589
nicole.vasile@voya.com

About Voya Financial®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), is a premier retirement, investment and insurance company serving the financial needs of approximately 13 million individual and institutional customers in the United States. A Fortune 500 company, Voya had $11 billion in revenue in 2014. The company had $486 billion in total assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2015. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time — Voya's vision is to be America's Retirement Company™. The company is committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible — Voya has been recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies, by the Ethisphere Institute, and as one of the Top Green Companies in the U.S., by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit voya.com or view the company's 2014 annual report. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook and Twitter @Voya.

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SOURCE Voya Financial, Inc.